This easy homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe is the ideal combination of sweet, tangy and delicious! Made with simple ingredients, this sauce is perfect for chicken, shrimp, meatballs and more.
Now you can skip the takeout and jarred sauce and make a sweet and sour sauce right at home, and this homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce is one of my favorites.
Jump to:
- Easy sweet and sour sauce
- How to make homemade sweet and sour sauce
- Why You'll Love This Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Expert recipe tips
- Substitutions
- Ways to Use Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Variations
- Storage
- FAQs
- Ingedients
- Easy Homemade Sauces
- What to serve with Asian dipping sauce
- Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe
Easy sweet and sour sauce
I love that this sweet and sour sauce recipe is so easy that it comes together in literally just minutes with simple pantry-friendly ingredients you may already have on hand.
Every spoonful is sweet, tangy, glossy and packed with delicious flavor.
The combination of pineapple juice with dark brown sugar and apple cider vinegar creates that irresistible sweet-and-tangy flavor we all love.
A splash of soy sauce adds a savory depth that balances the sweetness perfectly.
The addition of a cornstarch slurry gives this homemade sauce its signature thick, glossy texture without needing any complicated techniques.
Once you make sweet and sour sauce from scratch, you may never want to reach for a jar from the grocery store or order takeout again.
This flavorful sauce is an easy way to add big flavor to everyday meals.
Drizzle it over crispy chicken, toss it with shrimp, use it as a dipping sauce or stir-fry sauce.
Any way you serve it, it’s an easy homemade sauce that turns an ordinary meal into something extra special and oh so delicious!
Be sure to check out lots of awesome sauces that you can make too!
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How to make homemade sweet and sour sauce
This is a quick overview of how to make this easy sweet and sour sauce recipe from scratch. Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.
- Step 1: Heat pineapple juice, dark brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, water and soy sauce in a saucepot until the brown sugar dissolves, stirring occasionally.
- Step 2: In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water stirring until the cornstarch is dissolved to make the cornstarch slurry.
- Step 3: Add the sornstarch slurry to the saucepot and whisk until blended and there are no lumps.
- Step 4: Bring to a boil and boil for at least one minute until the sauce thickens slightly. The sauce should lightly coat the back of a wooden spoon when it is done.
Hint: Be sure to use cold water when mixing the cornstarch and water to make the slurry, otherwise your slurry (and sauce!) will have lumps.
Why You'll Love This Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Easy to make - This simple sauce comes together so quickly on the stovetop.
- Simple ingredients - You only need a handful of basic pantry staples that you probably already have in your kitchen.
- Sweet and tangy - Pineapple juice, brown sugar and vinegar come together to create the perfect flavor balance.
- Thick and glossy - Cornstarch is the ingredient that gives the sauce its classic restaurant-style consistency and glossy sheen.
- Versatile – There are so many uses for this sauce. Serve it with chicken, pork, shrimp, vegetables, rice and so much more.
- Make-ahead recipe – You can make this recipe and keep it refrigerated until you need it for your weekly meals.
Expert recipe tips
- Whisk in the cornstarch – Whisking in the cornstarch slurry ensures that the cornstarch is completely blended in the saucepot so you don't end up with little lumps in your sauce.
- Stirring as the sauce cooks - Stirring occasionally helps the sauce to thicken evenly and, most importantly, prevents it from sticking to the bottom of your saucepan.
- Taste and adjust - Sweet and sour sauce is all about the balance of flavors. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, just add a little more brown sugar. Prefer a little extra tang? Just add a splash more of vinegar.
- Serve warm or chilled - This sauce is delicious when served warm, but it also makes an excellent dipping sauce when cooled.
- Make a double batch - Once you see how easy homemade sweet and sour sauce is to make, you'll want to keep an extra jar in the refrigerator for quick meals and appetizers.
Substitutions
- Pineapple juice - For a citrus variation, orange juice can be used in place of pineapple juice, although the flavor will differ a bit from traditional sweet and sour sauce.
- Dark brown sugar - Light brown sugar can be substituted for dark brown sugar although the sauce will have a slightly lighter molasses flavor. Pure maple syrup can also replace the dark brown sugar.
- Apple cider vinegar - Rice vinegar, white vinegar or white wine vinegar can replace apple cider vinegar. Keep in mind that rice vinegar will give the sauce a milder tang.
- Soy sauce - Need a gluten free sauce?You can make this recipe with gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos in place of soy sauce.
- Corn starch - Arrowroot starch is an acceptable alternative thickener for cornstarch.
Ways to Use Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
This versatile homemade sauce is delicious with so many meals and in so many ways. Once you have a jar of homemade sweet and sour sauce in your refrigerator, there are endless ways to use it and what to serve it with such as:
- As a dipping sauce for appetizers
- Chicken nuggets
- Crispy sweet and sour chicken
- Crispy tofu
- Egg rolls
- Pork chops
- Rice bowls
- Spring rolls
- Stir-fried vegetables
- Stir-fry dinenrs
- Sweet and sour shrimp
Variations
- Garlic Sweet and Sour Sauce – For those garlic lovers in your life, stir in minced garlic for that extra savory layer of flavor.
- Ginger Sweet and Sour Sauce - For a warm, aromatic flavor add some grated fresh ginger to the sauce.
- Honey Sweet and Sour Sauce – For a slightly different sweetness and flavor, you can replace some of the brown sugar with honey.
- Hot Honey Sweet and Sour Sauce – For a a touch of sweet heat, you can replace some of the brown sugar with hot honey.
- Pineapple Sweet and Sour Sauce - For even more pineapple flavor, add some canned crushed pineapple when simmering the sauce.
- Spicy Sweet and Sour Sauce – For a sauce with a spicy kick, add crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or a splash of your favorite hot sauce.
Storage
- Store any leftover homemade sweet and sour sauce in a mason jar with a lid or in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- The sauce may thicken as it chills. Once you warm it gently to serve the sauce will loosen up again. You can always add a little bit of water to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency.
- For the best flavor and texture, use the refrigerated sauce within one week.
- See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
FAQs
Sweet and sour sauce is typically made with a combination of sweet and tangy ingredients. My homemade sauce uses pineapple juice, dark brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, water, soy sauce and cornstarch, making it a flavorful sauce with a glossy texture.
That’s a definite yes! This easy sweet and sour sauce comes together in just minutes on the stovetop with simple ingredients.
For sure. Homemade sweet and sour sauce is a great sauce to make ahead. After making your sauce, refrigerate it and gently reheat it when you're ready to serve.
Sweet and sour sauce is delicious with chicken, pork, shrimp, tofu, vegetables and rice. It’s also a good dipping sauce for potstickers, chicken nuggets and many appetizers.
Yes, you can substitute another fruit juice, such as orange juice or cranberry juice, although the flavor will be different because the pineapple juice gives this recipe its signature fruity flavor.
Ingedients
Ingredients for Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Pineapple Juice - Pineapple juice brings natural sweetness and a bright, fruity flavor to the sauce and adds that classic tropical note.
- Dark Brown Sugar - Dark brown sugar adds sweetness along with a deeper caramel-like flavor thanks to its molasses content. It also gives the sauce its balanced sweetness and rich color.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - Apple cider vinegar provides that tangy flavor layer that makes sweet and sour sauce so irresistible. It has a fruity acidity that balances the sweetness from the pineapple juice and brown sugar.
- Water - Water helps to bring all of the ingredients together and creates the right consistency for the cornstarch slurry.
- Soy Sauce - Soy sauce adds that savory umami flavor and also gives the sauce a little extra depth and complexity.
- Cornstarch - Cornstarch is the secret to a beautifully thick and glossy sauce. The cornstarch slurry transforms the sauce to just the right consistency.
Easy Homemade Sauces
If you love making your favorite sauces from scratch, be sure to try more of my homemade sauce recipes.
What to serve with Asian dipping sauce
Serve as a dipping sauce with these recipes!
Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cans (6 ounces each) pineapple juice
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
CORNSTARCH SLURRY
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
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Instructions
- In a saucepot, heat the pineapple juice, dark brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ½ cup water and soy sauce over medium heat. Cook until the sugar has dissolved, stirring occasionally.
CORNSTARCH SLURRY
- In a small bowl combine the cornstarch and the remaining ¼ cup water, stirring until the cornstarch is dissolved and the mixture is smooth and blended.
- Whisk the cornstarch mixture into the saucepot.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for at least one minute until the mixture begins to thicken into a sauce consistency.
- Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the sauce comes to a gentle simmer and thickens to a glossy consistency, about 5 minutes.
- Let the sauce cool and transfer to a mason jar with a lid or an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Going to try. Most places don't sell sweet and sour sauce anymore in my area.
Hi Linda, I hope you enjoy this recipe. The best part of making a homemade sauce is that you can adjust the ingredients to your personal taste. Love sweet? Add more brown sugar. Love savory? Add more soy sauce. Love tangy? Add more vinegar. Happy cooking!